Allergic diseases have become a significant concern for public health globally and the Qassim region in Saudi Arabia is no exception.[1] With a population, exceeding 1.3 million, the Qassim is known for its climate agricultural activities and rapid urbanization all of which play a role in the complexity of allergic disease prevalence.[2] Allergic rhinitis asthma and atopic dermatitis are among the most prevalent allergic disorders influencing individuals across all age groups leading to considerable morbidity and a decline in quality of life.[3] The rising prevalence of these conditions highlights the importance of understanding the challenges faced in Qassim and establishing effective prevention and control measures. Allergies often manifest as reactions on the skin triggered by certain foods, insect stings, or medications causing issues like eczema or hives. The second type is Anaphylaxis which is a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening and requires immediate medical assistance.[4] These chronic allergies can affect quality of life in ways such as disrupting sleep causing fatigue and reducing productivity. Moreover, managing allergies can place a burden on families and health-care systems due to expenses and lost productivity.[5] In addition, respiratory allergies, to pollen and dust mites, can worsen asthma and other respiratory issues.[6] In the Qassim region similar to many areas, common allergies include (1) Pollen allergies prevalent during spring when plants bloom, (2) dust mite allergies often worsened by indoor settings, (3) food allergies, such as reactions to nuts, dairy, or seafood, (4) insect allergies caused by stings from bees or wasps, and (5) allergies to medications reactions to medications, especially in the elderly. Statistics show that 25% of children and young adults have pollen allergies leading to symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes with a peak during spring. In addition, 18% of adults aged 30–50 are affected by dust mite allergies causing coughing and nasal congestion although this rate has remained steady over the past year. Moreover, 12% of children under 12 show signs of food allergies such as hives and swelling with an upward trend. Similarly, 7% of individuals across all age groups experience insect allergies resulting in anaphylaxis and rashes while 10% of older adults aged 50 and above have drug allergies that manifest as skin reactions and nausea with a noteworthy increase.

Objective: The alarming increase in vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been shown to result in compounded risks of major health problems globally. As sickle cell disease (SCD) children are already health compromised, the co-morbidities escalate early in life, demanding an early detection, to minimize the adverse effects. This study determined vitamin D levels in children with SCD without a crisis to check for probable associations with inflammation and infections if any. Methods: SCD children aged 5–16 years, in a steady state, were enrolled in the study after taking necessary consent and ethical clearance. Hb, serum calcium, vitamin D, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were analyzed. Results: VDD was seen in most of the children with SCD irrespective of gender and age. Males aged 5–10 years showed significance (P = 0.0375) with vitamin D and white blood cell (WBC) (P = 0.0015) but males aged 11–16-year age group exhibited a very strong-positive correlation with vitamin D (r = 0.9862) and a very strong-negative correlation with Hb (r = −0.9819) and hsCRP (r = −0.9907). Among females, the 11–16-year age group patients exhibited a significant association with vitamin D (P = 0.0487), Ca (P = 0.0118), Hb (P = 0.0007), and hsCRP (P = 0.0001) levels. Correlation “r” values in this age group show a strong-negative correlation with WBC levels (r = −0.6525) as well as hsCRP (r = − 0.6550). Conclusion: The increased deficiency of vitamin D in SCD children should be addressed at early ages of life, to reduce the occurrence and severity of associated comorbidities.

Objective: In spite of great advance in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognostic factors are still obviously not understood. The role of tumor budding (TB) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in HCC as pathological parameters affecting prognosis stands principally unknown. Methods: Seventy-four surgical resection pathology specimens of HCC patients were used. Assessment of TB and TILs were performed using hematoxylineosin-stained slides. Follow-up data were collected over a 5-year period to determine disease-free survival rates, overall survival (OS) rates, and how they related to TB, TILs, and other clinicopathological factors. Results: There was a significant statistical association between high-grade TB and lymphovascular embolization (LVE), tumor necrosis, and grade of HCC with P = 0.003, 0.036, and 0.017, respectively. The positive TILs group showed a statistically significant correlation with histological grade, LVE, and serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) level with P = 0.002, 0.006, and 0.043, respectively. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that TILs are not an independent pathological factor for disease-free and OS, although TB is an independent pathological factor for both. Conclusions: In all HCC patients, TB was seen, and there was a significant link between the grade of the HCC and the presence of tumor necrosis, LVE, and high-grade TB. The majority (92%) of HCC patients had TILs, and there was a strong relationship between the histological grade, LVE, and serum AFP level. While TILs show variation of the immunologic reaction to the tumor, TB tends to suggest a hostile biologic nature and a bad prognosis.       

Objective: The differentiation between reactive atypical changes and dysplasia/carcinoma in the daily cases of cholecystectomies is a routine histopathological challenge. Up to our knowledge, no immunohistochemical marker can defiantly differentiate between these two changes. Many promising markers have been proposed to be helpful tools in this situation. One of them is B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) immunohistochemical stain. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate its usefulness as a marker that might be helpful in such challenging cases. Methods: From the archive of the histopathology laboratories of Qassim University Medical City and King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Qassim, five dysplastic/neoplastic gallbladder cases were collected (in the shape of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks) as well as five cholecystitis with reactive atypical changes cases. Two slides from each block were prepared: One was stained with H&E and the other was stained immunohistochemically with BCL-2. The slides were evaluated by two histopathologist consultants in the same sitting using multiheaded microscope to confirm the original diagnosis and to evaluate the BCL-2 staining. Results: Five dysplastic/carcinoma cases and five cholecystitis with reactive atypia were collected. The original diagnoses were confirmed by two pathologists. They also confirmed that all the BCL-2 stained slides (with the exception of one reactive case) were negative for BCL-2 immunohistochemical stain. Conclusion: BCL-2 immunohistochemical stain is not a promising marker in the differentiation between reactive epithelium and dysplasia/carcinoma in the gallbladder.

Objectives: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and microRNA-183-5p (hsa-miR-183-5p) have been implicated in the development of cervical cancer, yet their relationship has not been explored. This study aims to determine whether phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced IL-8 expression is regulated by hsa-miR-183-5p in cervical cancer cells. Methods: Bioinformatics algorithms were employed to predict the potential binding of hsa-miR-183-5p to the 3’UTR of IL-8 mRNA. CaSKi cervical cancer cells were used as a model to investigate this regulation. The expression levels of hsa-miR-183-5p and IL-8 were measured using Taqman assays through real-time polymerase chain reaction, while IL-8 protein levels were quantified in culture media through IL-8 specific Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Luciferase reporter assays and transfections with pre- or anti-miR-183-5p were conducted to validate the binding of hsa-miR-183-5p to IL-8 mRNA’s 3’UTR. Results: The bioinformatics tool TargetScan identified a seed-matched sequence for hsa-miR-183-5p in the 3’UTR of IL-8 mRNA. PMA-induced IL-8 expression was inversely correlated with hsa-miR-183-5p down regulation in cervical cancer cells. hsa-miR-183-5p significantly reduced luciferase activity in the 3’UTR-IL-8 reporter assay. Transfection with pre-miR-183-5p led to a notable decrease in IL-8 mRNA and protein secretion, while anti-miR-183-5p transfection caused a significant increase in IL-8 mRNA and protein levels in PMA-treated cells. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that hsa-miR-183-5p directly regulates IL-8 expression in cervical cancer cells. Both IL-8 and hsa-miR-183-5p could serve as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Objective: Schiff bases are versatile chemical compounds extensively used in various applications, including as catalysts, polymer stabilizers, pigments, dyes, and building blocks for organic synthesis. In addition, they exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antiproliferative, antiinflammatory, and antipyretic effects. Methods: A novel Schiff base ligand (HL) was synthesized by condensing isatin with 2,6-diaminopyridine and isoleucine, followed by the preparation of transition metal complexes. The ligand and complexes were characterized using techniques such as elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis. Antimicrobial, antiproliferative activities, and structural investigations through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were also evaluated. Results: The complexes were identified as [Cr(L)Cl(H2O)]Cl·2H2O, [Fe(L)Cl2], [M(L)]Cl·nH2O, and [M(L)(H2O)2]Cl, where M represents Mn(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II). Thermogravimetric analysis showed initial water loss, followed by decomposition of anionic compounds and ligands. The ligand forms a uninegative-tetradentate bond with the metal ions, and all complexes, except Fe(III), exhibit electrolytic behavior. Most complexes displayed tetrahedral geometry, while Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) had octahedral geometry. The metal complexes showed enhanced antibacterial, antifungal, and antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells compared to the free ligand. Molecular docking studies indicated inhibitory potential against receptors 1GS4, 2HQ6, 3DJD, and 5JPE. Conclusion: These newly synthesized ligands and complexes show promise as therapeutic agents against infections and cancer, though further studies are needed to understand their mechanisms.

Objectives: The correlation between denture usage and nutrition is a subject of ongoing debate, with numerous authors attempting to investigate it using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). This systematic review aimed to assess the quality of research reporting on the use of FFQ as a tool for evaluating nutrient intake in individuals who wear dentures. Methods: Studies were sourced through online databases, encompassing publications from 1990 to 2024. Four studies employing FFQ to evaluate the nutritional status of denture wearers and meeting the specified inclusion-exclusion criteria were incorporated into this systematic review. Quality assessment of the included studies was independently conducted by two reviewers, utilizing the summary score provided by Dennis et al. Results: All the studies included in the review utilized semi-quantitative FFQ, with most adopting the widely accepted and validated FFQ developed by Willet and Block. The majority of these studies received high-quality scores as per the assessment criteria established by Dennis et al. However, one study under review received a low score due to several shortcomings. This included failure to report the FFQ items utilized in the study, lack of repetition in quality checks, absence of nutrient database utilization for FFQ coding, inadequate portion size estimation, and insufficient information regarding survey completion time. Conclusion: The articles included in the review, along with their quality assessments, provided insights into various aspects of FFQ design that enhance validity. These include the comprehensiveness of items covered, frequency of intake reporting, accuracy of portion size calculations, choice of reference technique, and method of delivery. It was observed that the majority of studies favored the interview administration of FFQ, which was deemed to be more reliable and acceptable during quality analysis.